Bengals To Cut Joe Mixon, Sign Zack Moss
Joe Mixon will not be on the Bengals’ roster when a bonus vests later this week. The Bengals are moving on from their seven-year starting running back, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report.
This was a rumored scenario in Cincinnati, with Mixon agreeing to a reworked contract last summer. Cincy is also bringing in a replacement. Zack Moss will be the latest 2023 RB starter to change teams, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting the recent Colt will sign a two-year deal to join the Bengals. Moss will head for the AFC North on a two-year, $8MM pact. The Bengals will save $6.1MM by releasing Mixon, who was due a $3MM bonus Saturday.
Mixon came with considerable controversy when the Bengals drafted him — due to a video catching him striking a woman while at Oklahoma, leading to a team-imposed suspension — and a 2023 arrest became a headache for the team. (Mixon was found not guilty on an aggravated menacing charge in August.)
The 27-year-old back has operated as a fixture in Cincinnati’s offense dating back to the Marvin Lewis–Andy Dalton era. But last year’s contract redo — a two-year, $11.5MM pact that significantly reduced Mixon’s pay, after he had signed a four-year, $48MM deal in 2020 — displayed some wall writing for the Bengals, whose roster blueprint is different with Joe Burrow on an NFL-record extension.
The Bengals still leaned on Mixon in 2023, having lost Samaje Perine to the Broncos in free agency. Mixon churned out his fourth 1,000-yard season. In addition to clearing that barrier, Mixon crossed 1,400 scrimmage yards (1,410) for the fourth time. He added 12 touchdowns in what amounted to a lost season due to Burrow’s injury. As the musical chairs spin at this position, Mixon is much shorter on options than he was coming into Monday.
Mixon stood 35 yards away from James Brooks for second in Bengals rushing annals, and while he should have an opportunity in 2024, Cincinnati is moving on. The team will turn to Moss, who is going into his age-26 season. Moss impressed as the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor fill-in last season and will collect a bit of guaranteed money from his new team. The ex-Bills second-rounder will collect $4.5MM in the first year of this Bengals contract. Moss tallied 794 rushing yards and five touchdowns as a Colt last season, adding two receiving scores.
One of the teams to lose a running back today, the Cowboys were also in the mix for Moss. Dallas was not quite willing to go where Cincinnati was, per the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken. Whereas Mixon has 1,571 carries on his odometer — more than any back to change teams today — Moss is at just 484. At a position where mileage matters most, the Bengals are rebooting. Moss will join Chase Brown and the recently re-signed Trayveon Williams in Cincinnati’s backfield.
Thus far Monday, 12 teams changed starting running backs. A few clubs still have needs, and Mixon will join Aaron Jones — also released today — and Derrick Henry as big names in search of a new opportunity.
Bucs To Bring Back RB Chase Edmonds
Chase Edmonds enjoyed an unstable stretch following his Arizona departure, being traded and then cut. The veteran running back has since found some stability.
The Buccaneers are bringing back Edmonds, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. Edmonds spent the 2023 season as a Bucs contributor, working behind starter Rachaad White. The ex-Cardinals draftee will aim to reprise that role next season. Edmonds will sign a one-year, $1.5MM deal that includes a $2MM max, ESPN’s Jenna Laine tweets.
Playing sparingly on offense, Edmonds gained 257 yards from scrimmage on 63 touches last season. This came with an injury interruption, but the Bucs reinserted the former Cardinals fourth-rounder into their RB rotation down the stretch. Edmonds played 35 playoff snaps and logged 14 touches.
The Dolphins signed Edmonds to a two-year, $12MM deal in 2022 but shipped him to the Broncos as salary filler in the Bradley Chubb trade. Changing coaches again in 2023, the Broncos cut Edmonds to create cap space in Sean Payton’s first offseason. Edmonds, 27, played on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum last season.
Edmonds posted 850- and 903-yard seasons (from scrimmage) during his final two Cardinals offerings but has not been a regular back anywhere else. The Bucs still think enough of the Fordham alum to keep him in a new offense, as Liam Coen is stepping in for Dave Canales.
Patriots To Sign LB Sione Takitaki
After five seasons in Cleveland, Sione Takitaki will join the Patriots. Some familiar faces will greet the former Browns linebacker.
Takitaki will sign with the Patriots, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. In addition to OC Alex Van Pelt and QBs coach T.C. McCartney, the current top Pats decision-maker — Eliot Wolf — and the recently hired Alonzo Highsmith were in Cleveland when the Browns drafted Takitaki.
As Takitaki rejoins some key John Dorsey-era Browns brain-trust bastions in Foxborough, Pelissero adds he will do so on a two-year, $6.5MM accord. The Browns showed confidence in Takitaki under GM Andrew Berry as well, re-signing him following a 2022 injury. But the team will let the former third-round pick move on.
Takitaki was a third-round pick by the Browns back in 2019 but could never carve out a consistent role during his time in Cleveland. He started exactly half of his 72 regular-season appearances with the team, compiling 268 tackles and four sacks. That includes a 2023 campaign where he finished with 65 tackles and two sacks while ranking as Pro Football Focus’ 32nd-best linebacker among 82 qualifiers.
The Patriots do return much of their linebackers corps in 2024, but the team could be missing a chunk of snaps from departed free agents. Both Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche are currently free agents, and the door to a potential return could be shut with Takitaki now on board.
Texans To Re-Sign WR Noah Brown
Noah Brown is sticking in Houston. The Texans have re-signed the free agent wide receiver, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
After spending the first six seasons of his career in Dallas, Brown joined the Texans on a one-year deal last offseason. The wideout ended up having one of the most productive seasons of his career, finishing with 33 catches for a career-high 567 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Brown may be penciled in as the WR4 behind Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Robert Woods heading into 2024. However, he should see still plenty of snaps in the high-flying Texans offense, and injuries could force him into a larger role (just as they did in 2023).
Brown certainly wasn’t one of the top names on the free agent WR list, limiting his options. However, the Texans clearly valued his familiarity with the offense and his willingness to potentially play a less role, leading to a second contract with the organization.
Now, the Texans can shift focus to their running backs room. We’ve seen the organization connected to a number of RBs, including Tony Pollard, D’Andre Swift, and Saquon Barkley. That trio is now off the board, and the team also saw their most productive 2023 rusher, Devin Singletary, join the Giants. While the team’s WR corps appears set, the team clearly has some work to do elsewhere on offense.
Browns To Add LB Jordan Hicks
The Browns are set to reward Jim Schwartz‘s recent success as defensive coordinator by bringing in a former player of his. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cleveland will sign former Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks to a two-year, $8MM contract. 
Hicks and Schwartz worked together when the pair were both in Philadelphia near the start of Hicks’ career. Health assisted, but after pairing with Schwartz, Hicks took a big step forward in his sophomore season, mostly showing his worth in coverage where he nabbed five interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He graded out as the league’s third-best linebacker that season, according to Pro Football Focus, out of 87 graded players at the position.
After two more injury-riddled years under Schwartz, Hicks spent three years in Arizona and two more in Minnesota. Since leaving Philadelphia in 2019, Hicks had mostly put his injury troubles behind him, starting every possible game until missing four this past year with a leg contusion. Despite the missed time due to injury, Hicks was still productive for the Vikings. Including his shortened 2023 season, Hicks has not totaled fewer than 107 total tackles since going to the Cardinals.
Minnesota has already made preparations for Hicks’ departure. Knowing that Hicks was likely on the move, the Vikings addressed the position by bringing in a younger free agent like Blake Cashman from Houston. Cashman should pair up with returning starter Ivan Pace to form the team’s new inside linebacker duo.
In Cleveland, Hicks arrives to fill some holes of his own after the Browns saw free agent linebackers Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker sign with the Patriots and Dolphins, respectively. Hicks may have to compete with Jacob Phillips, but he should secure a starting position on the Browns defense alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Phillips may be able to factor in as the team’s third starter, but it makes sense for Cleveland to continue to monitor the draft and free agency for at least one more potential linebacker addition.
49ers To Add DE Yetur Gross-Matos
The 49ers are busy filling out Nick Bosa‘s latest crew of defensive end sidekicks. After already adding Leonard Floyd, the defending NFC champions will pick up a recent Panthers second-round pick.
Yetur Gross-Matos will head to San Francisco on a two-year, $18MM contract, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Although Gross-Matos has never enjoyed a five-sack season, the 49ers have shown a knack for getting more out of pass rushers. Still, this is a nice contract for the four-year Panthers contributor.
San Francisco is spending a bit more to fortify its D-end group this offseason. The team had used lower-cost cogs — Charles Omenihu, Clelin Ferrell, Arden Key, Samson Ebukam — in recent years, but those deals also came when Jimmy Garoppolo‘s contract was on the payroll. Brock Purdy must stay on a rookie contract until at least 2025, giving the 49ers more flexibility. The team is also moving on from Arik Armstead, freeing up some D-line funds.
The Panthers attempted to turn to Gross-Matos as their top Brian Burns complement, but the former No. 38 overall pick did not stick in that role. Carolina added Justin Houston last year, which led to the Penn State alum only starting six games. As the Panthers regroup up front, the 49ers will spend a chunk of change to add what appears to be a No. 3 edge rusher.
Gross-Matos is still just 25, and the 49ers have completed a few reclamation projects under D-line coach Kris Kocurek. The 6-foot-5 pass rusher did post 10 QB hits in each of the past two seasons, but his 2.5-sack 2022 — in 17 starts — is rather glaring. This will be an interesting challenge, though Gross-Matos’ contract suggested other teams believe in him as well.
Seahawks To Re-Sign DL Leonard Williams
Negotiations between the Seahawks and Leonard Williams will produce an agreement. Although the Giants footed most of the interior D-lineman’s bill last year, the Seahawks are still prepared to pay up to keep the 2023 trade acquisition.
Williams will stay in Seattle on a three-year deal worth $21.5MM per season, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. This represents Williams’ second $20MM-per-year accord; he signed the other in 2021 as a Giant. This also makes the Seahawks’ D-line one of the NFL’s most expensive position groups, with Dre’Mont Jones tied to a $17MM-AAV accord. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported the sides were closing in on a deal.
The Seahawks are guaranteeing $43.85MM of this contract, Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz tweets. This might not be the guarantee at signing; nevertheless, Williams has again done well to maximize his value. The Giants guaranteed him $45MM on their three-year, $63MM accord, but that came to prevent a second franchise tag from going on the books. Williams did not have that leverage this time, but after the Seahawks gave up second- and fifth-round picks to acquire the former top-10 pick at the deadline, they are keeping the asset.
Williams, 29, has not posted more than seven sacks in a season in any year besides his well-timed 2020 showing (11.5); he tallied 5.5 (four as a Seahawk) and 16 QB hits in 2023. Williams also has an extensive track record as a quality run defender, though his best work on that front came back in his Jets days. The former top-10 pick played well in Seattle, however, and the Seahawks will put him back to work in a new defensive scheme.
This marks a multiyear pivot for the Seahawks, who were not known for interior D-line spending under Pete Carroll. They now have Williams and Jones signed to upper-crust DT contracts. Both players have worked exclusively in 3-4 schemes in their careers, and Mike Macdonald — after turning Justin Madubuike loose in Baltimore last season — will go about devising concepts to coax the most out of his high-priced D-line presences.
Patriots To Sign QB Jacoby Brissett
As the Patriots navigate an uncertain future on offense, the team is turning to a familiar face. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the Patriots are planning to sign quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
It’ll be a one-year deal for the veteran QB, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The contract is worth $8MM and can hit a max value of $12MM.
There were recent rumors that the Patriots could be eyeing their former third-round pick. While Brissett would never be confused with a franchise QB, there was a belief that the Patriots valued the veteran’s role as a potential bridge QB. Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald echoes that sentiment, but the reporter warns that Brissett could also transition to the QB2 role in 2024. The quarterback also worked with current Patriots offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt when the two were in Cleveland together, and the former Browns OC reportedly “loved” Brissett.
The organization has since moved on from Mac Jones, which only increased the odds that the Patriots were going to opt for a QB with the third-overall pick in the draft. With Brissett now penciled in atop the depth chart, the Patriots can opt for a first-year signal caller and have them develop behind the scenes for a year.
The 31-year-old Brissett has widely been considered one of the top backup QBs in the NFL, mostly thanks to his performance while filling in for injured QB1s. After going 4-11 during his first extended opportunity to start with the Colts, Brissett has since gone 13-18 as a QB1, including a 2019 campaign where he went 7-8. Brissett didn’t have an opportunity to start in Washington in 2023, but he tossed 12 touchdowns in 11 starts with the Browns in 2022 (he added another two scores on the ground).
Brissett entered the NFL as a third-round pick by the Patriots back in 2016. Thanks to a suspension for Tom Brady and an injury to Jimmy Garoppolo, Brissett ended up getting into three games for New England, keeping the ship afloat with a 1-1 record as a starter. He’ll be eyeing a more significant role in New England this time around, although the veteran will surely know his opportunity will be short assuming the organization adds a rookie at the position.
Dolphins To Sign OL Aaron Brewer
Losing Robert Hunt and having both Connor Williams and Isaiah Wynn unsigned, the Dolphins have some work to do up front. They have brought back fill-in starter Robert Jones, but they look more likely to use their latest free agency addition at center.
Aaron Brewer is signing with the team, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Miami is giving the former Tennessee center and guard starter a three-year, $21MM deal. Brewer will head to Florida after two years as a Titans starter.
Although Williams fared better than Brewer during the past two seasons, the former UDFA has held his own. The Titans gave Brewer a second-round RFA tender, keeping him as they changed just about everything else about their O-line in 2023, and Pro Football Focus rated him as the league’s No. 11 overall center.
Jones’ return may cap the changes on Miami’s front to two, as he filled in at points last season. But the Brewer move would stand to ensure Williams does not come back. The two-year Dolphins center, who was attached to a $7MM-per-year deal as well, suffered a torn ACL in Week 14 of last season. Williams skipped minicamp in protest of his contract, but the Dolphins did not adjust his deal. The knee injury will hurt Williams this offseason, though he should still be expected to command a decent market.
Brewer, 26, has displayed durability since moving into the Titans’ starting lineup in 2022. He has not missed a game in that span, and the Dolphins will be counting on him to keep going as their offense becomes more expensive — with Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle in the extension queue.
Seahawks To Re-Sign TE Noah Fant
Noah Fant is sticking with the Seahawks. The tight end is signing a two-year, $21MM deal to stay in Seattle, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.
Fant was among the best tight ends available in this year’s free agency class. We’ve already seen a handful of players at the position come off the board, with Fant representing one of the top remaining options.
The Russell Wilson trade piece has not quite justified his first-round pedigree, but he’s still been productive since joining the Seahawks. The organization picked up the tight end’s fifth-year option following the trade, allowing the Seahawks to squeeze two years out of their acquisition.
Fant has two 670-yard receiving seasons on his resume, both coming in Denver. The Seahawks did not utilize Fant in the same way. After back-to-back 90-target seasons as a Bronco, the Iowa alum drew only 82 in two Seahawk seasons.
Fant finished his first season in Seattle with 50 catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns. His counting stats took a significant step back this past season, with Fant hauling in only 32 catches in 17 games. While those numbers won’t have anyone confusing Fant with a top-tier TE, the player is still young, durable (two career games missed) and clocked a sub-4.5-second 40 time at the 2019 Combine.
With Fant, Dalton Schultz, and Hunter Henry off the free agent board, Gerald Everett likely stands as the best remaining TE on the market.